by Thandi Ryan
Amara flung two energy balls at him which he dodged and sent one back at her which was his parting shot, before he bolted out of the door, Amara sent the energy ball flying into the burning wall and then she turned to see Garrick and Michael tending to a shaking Thaddeus.
‘Get him out of here,’ she commanded them.
Michael and Garrick picked up Thaddeus and took him out of the burning room and Michael shouted to Amara to follow them. Amara ran to the end of the room and pulled on the long rope that was hanging down from the ceiling; she pulled on it hard and when she did, bells began to ring in the guardroom and in the barracks. The guards came running and within a minute, they were pouring water and dousing the flames with thick fire cloth beaters.
Amara ordered those that were not fighting the fire, to ride out and find Rakan, Waldon, Rufus and Kenaz and arrest them on sight. There were ten guards who were exceptionally quick and they ran back to their rooms picked up their swords and armour and ran to the stables, where their horses were, and rode out to find and catch Rakan and his friends.
Rakan, Rufus, Waldon and Kenaz were well prepared; when Rakan fled the crest room, he ran straight to the courtyard where the three men were waiting for him. He mounted his horse and the four of them rode out of the palace at breakneck speed, ruthlessly despatching of anyone in their way. They cleared the palace and rode eastwards towards Santeb with none of the guard in tow.
The ten guards’ rode out to find Rakan but when they reached the edge of the palace, there was no sign of them; they then had to dismount and track them. They wondered if they would find them, for they knew that the three of them were among the best officers of the guard and could easily cover their tracks. Everything that the guard in pursuit knew: Rakan, Waldon, Kenaz and even Rufus knew, and more.
They tracked them as best they could and as they searched for the men, they were joined by ten more of the guard; which then broke down into groups of five and went in search of the friends. It took them four hours to find Rakan and the others and when they discovered the four men: Rakan, Waldon, Rufus and Kenaz were settling down to eat.
The four men were un-phased by the arrival of the two groups of five, who sounded their horns to alert the others. Rakan, Waldon and Kenaz stood up and drew their swords as the guard approached. The guard stopped short of the four men and the group Captain addressed them:
‘Second Captain Lord, Captains’ Blake and Adeyemi and Rufus Mallory: the Empress commands that you be arrested and returned to the palace. Drop your swords and surrender.’
‘If you want us to go to Amalah City then you are going to have to take us there – by force,’ Rakan told the captain.
‘You are outnumbered. There are four of you and ten of us and another ten are on the way - you cannot escape.’
‘We don’t intend to,’ Waldon said confidently. ‘Well not yet anyway.’
‘Be reasonable men, if you return to Amalah City, I am sure that this can be resolved,’ the Captain countered, as he stalled for time.
‘Why are you sure?’ Rufus asked.
‘Because…’ the captain began, but failed to answer in time.
‘Because you don’t know,’ Rakan said, finishing his sentence.
‘We are not returning to the City captain, so you have two choices; return to Amalah now – or fight to the death.’
‘Then we fight,’ the captain said without hesitation.
The captain and his men dismounted from their horses and drew their swords and charged towards the four men. The friends raised their swords and prepared to fight and as the guard drew near, they all went on the offensive. Waldon and Kenaz fought side by side and as they engaged the guard, they dispatched quickly of any of the guard who came near them.
They fought with their swords, arms, legs and sometimes their heads – which they used to devastating effect. Kenaz would swing his arms into the head and face of the unfortunate guard, sending them sprawling on to the floor to land on their backs. Rakan fought mostly with his sword but he too used his arms and legs and Rufus; sly old Rufus would simply freeze any of the guard who slipped past Rakan, Waldon and Kenaz and then hit them hard just before unfreezing them.
The four had nearly defeated the guard when the reinforcements arrived; the four remained engaged in the fight as the guard dismounted and joined in. Fists flew, swords clashed and bodies fell and flew along the grass but in the end – the four friends were the only ones standing. Some of the guard were dead and the rest were badly injured. They all lay on the ground, moaning and groaning in agony and wondering what Rakan and the others were going to do to them, but the four friends did nothing; they simply mounted their horses and rode away eastwards. None of the guard was fit enough to ride after them and they could only watch from the ground as they rode away.
It was a while later before some of the guard arrived and when they found their fallen guardsmen they began to tend to the guards that were injured and organise the dead. They looked for signs of Rakan and the others but they were long gone and so, they headed back to Amalah City.
When they arrived back at the palace the staff and guard came out to help with the sick and the dead. The sick were taken inside and Dariel tended to them with the help of another healer. The Empress, Michael, Garrick, Thaddeus, Ellora and Kalon, along with the remaining members of the council, did all they could to tend to the sick and make arrangements for the dead and the dying.
When they had done all they could do, Amara called them to a meeting along with the group captains, who had pursued Rakan and friends. Garrick went to Häkan and when he got there, he relieved the guard men on duty and told them to report back to him in six hours. Garrick knocked and entered Häkan’s room and found him sitting at the desk reading a book.
‘Garrick, it is good to see you.’
‘And it is good to see you too Häkan, although I wish it were under better circumstances.’
‘What happened?’
‘Before I tell you, I want you to tell me honestly, how are you?’
‘Honestly, I am better than I was. That is all I can say. I still do not remember what really happened, but I think now, at least, I can bear to hear the truth whatever it is.’
‘Well my friend I have to tell you that today has been a bad day indeed but first of all let me tell you that you did not kill Raynor.
‘You know this?’
‘Yes.’
‘How?’
‘Rakan, Rakan killed Raynor to remove him and you from your seats in the council.’
‘It cannot be true.’
‘I wish it were not.’
‘He killed Raynor for his seat?’ Häkan asked incredulously.
‘Yes he did and he had help from Waldon, Kenaz and Rufus too.’
‘No!’
‘Yes,’ Garrick said, looking his friend in the eye and grasping his shoulder before he spoke. ‘They killed Galen...’
‘No,’ Häkan gasped.
‘And Wan Ling, Hannah, Serge and Femi.’
‘Dear god no,’ Häkan said, as the full horror dawned on him and the tears ran down his face. ‘All of them?’ he choked.
‘Yes all of them,’ Garrick said quite distraught himself.
‘I am at a loss,’ Häkan said simply.
‘As am I, as is Kalon. Kalon is clearly devastated, for he and Rakan were the closest of brothers’
‘Of course you are Garrick; I know I would be too,’ Häkan said, as he stood up and placed his hand on his shoulder. ‘Whatever you need Garrick I am here.’
‘Thank you,’ Garrick said.
‘Not at all.’
‘There is another reason I came. Rakan, Waldon Kenaz and Rufus fled Amalah city. Some of the guard went after them but they were defeated eight are dead and twelve injured, five of them seriously so. Rakan and the others are now nowhere to be seen. All the guard are at the palace now.’
‘I did not think the picture could get any worse.’
‘Neither did I but today th
ings are getting worse by the minute.’
‘Garrick I….’
‘Häkan, I came because I need you back as guard commander. Can you come back now? I know what you have been through.’
‘Which is nothing compared to what you have been through!’
‘Still, I do not under estimate what happened to you, but are you strong enough to come back to the guard?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good – can you come now? There will be a meeting shortly.’
‘Of course,’ Häkan said walking towards the door, the two men walked out of it and headed towards the meeting.
At the same time, on the outskirts of Amalah: Rakan, Rufus, Waldon and Kenaz were coming to the end of the dense forest that separated Amalah from the east. Rakan and Rufus performed a spell and weeds and roots began to grow until their exit was blocked. The weeds and roots continued to grow all through the forest, making it impenetrable to enter. They rode hard until they reached the mountains that would take them to Santeb and when they were on the top looking down at the world Rakan performed another spell.
Rakan sat on the ground facing the fire that he and Waldon had made and he closed his eyes before he called on Adriel in his mind; he called on him until he answered and after a few moments, Adriel suddenly appeared in the flames in holographic form.
‘Why do you call me Rakan?’ Adriel said, slightly annoyed.
‘To tell you that there has been a change of plan.’
‘Why?’
‘Because the original one was not working.’
‘The original plan was there for a reason.’
‘Well it wasn’t working. Do not worry Adriel, the outcome will be the same.’
‘For your sake I hope so.’
‘It will. But this is not the reason why I called you.’
‘Then why?’
‘To ask if you can make it snow.’
‘No.’
‘Can Salwar?’
‘Yes.’
‘Will he?’
‘I will ask.’ Adriel closed his eyes for a few seconds and then opened them again. ‘Yes.’
‘Good.’
‘Where?’
‘Amalah City, for at least six months – make it so they cannot leave.’
‘It will be done.’
‘Thank you and thank Salwar.’
‘Very well,’ Adriel said and disappeared.
Rakan stood up and went to the edge of the mountain where Rufus, Waldon and Kenaz were stood gazing out, and he joined them.
‘Are you ready?’ Rakan asked.
‘For what?’ Kenaz said.
‘To bring the nations to their knees.’
‘Absolutely,’ said Kenaz.
‘Yes,’ replied Waldon.
‘I am indeed,’ said Rufus.
‘Good,’ said Rakan. ‘Then let’s begin
Chapter 24
The four men stood on the mountaintop looking down at Santeb. They felt on top of the world; they felt alive and they felt invincible, as they felt the power of darkness course through their blood. They laid out their plans for Santeb and when they were done, they began their descent of the mountains and into the mainland. They rode further east for a while and before they came to any populated villages; they stopped to rest, eat and feed their horses.
‘If Adriel has done as he intended, then the people of Santeb will be divided,’ Rakan said to the others. ‘He’s happiest when he is causing human misery.’
‘I have no doubt that he has done what he intended to do,’ Rufus said evenly.
‘He did not sound pleased at all that we had changed Salwar’s plans,’ Kenaz said.
‘No he did not, but it matters not; for Salwar surely knows by now, that we have not adhered to his plan and if he were unhappy he would have stopped us by now,’ Rakan said responding to Kenaz.
The four men talked until late evening before they got back on their horses and rode towards the first set of villages. They followed the pattern of the night stars until they reached the outskirts of the first village. They rode in quietly and when they arrived, they tied their horses to some trees in the small woodland and made sure that they were well out of sight. They then walked towards the village and watched, as it buzzed quietly with life and activity.
The small huts were lit by small fires on the outside, while the small houses that were built with either clay or brick, had plumes of smoke emitting from the primitive chimneys which spiralled up into the air. People mostly stayed in the huts but a few walked around and went from hut to hut or house to house. Some homes were quiet as the inhabitants slept, whilst others were livelier; one hut was noisy in particular and that was where the young adults had decided to meet, talk and eat for the evening.
Rakan, Rufus, Waldon and Kenaz reached the small unsuspecting village in no time at all and no one saw or heard them arrive – until it was too late. The four men stood still for a few seconds. The four stood in unison but their thoughts and expressions differed. Rakan smiled as he thought of the havoc that they would wreak, as did Rufus. Kenaz stood resolute and ready for the fight and Waldon stared ahead, his face sombre and dark.
‘Remember brother,’ Rufus began as he glanced sideways at Waldon. ‘Embrace the warrior within, embrace your destiny.’
Waldon nodded and the four walked forward in unison, a few paces at a time until they were close to the unsuspecting homes. Rakan smiled a small smile and without looking at the others.
‘Are you ready?’ Rakan asked.
‘Yes,’ replied Waldon.
‘I love a good fight,’ said Kenaz.
‘I’m ready,’ Rufus said.
‘Good,’ Rakan said, as he brought his right hand up to his chest and looked at his palm; from which, a fireball appeared and balanced just millimetres above his skin. The other three looked on at it and Rufus and Kenaz smirked.
Rakan stared at it for a while longer before he raised his hand and hurled it at the nearest hut. The fireball went flying through the air and crashing into the hut at great speed and force, and those in the hut screamed in shock and terror as the fireball hit their home and set it alight. They scrambled to their knees and then feet, then – as quickly as they could – they threw themselves out of their burning home. Some of them were on fire as they left and some were badly burned, but all were screaming – even those who were unhurt.
Rakan and the others looked on feeling rather satisfied with themselves, as the terrified occupiers ran from the hut and the other villagers came rushing out to see what had happened. Just when the people thought they had the situation under control, Rakan launched another fireball from the palm of his hand and hurled it at another hut; where once again, there were people standing inside and outside.
The villagers screamed and ran as they saw the incoming fireball hurtle towards them and Rakan and his friends laughed at the panic stricken villagers and they looked on with delight as they saw the fear on their faces. The four men continued to walk into the village, as Rakan and now Rufus hurled fireballs at the huts and houses and as they continued to wreak havoc, the people ran away screaming; it was not until they realised that the cause of their terror was human, did they stop fleeing.
The villagers looked on to see the four men walking calmly through their village and burning it to the ground; many were petrified as they saw the fireballs fly from the hands’ of Rakan and Rufus but all were angry that the men before them had deliberately and wantonly had destroyed their homes and lives. The men charged at Rakan and Rufus but Waldon and Kenaz, who were on alert, would simply smack them down with a devastating punch or elbow.
At first the men ran at them individually but when that proved ineffective, they ran in their twos and threes and fours but still, they were no contest for the two dark warriors and so they ran in greater numbers, but still, they ended up laying sprawled on the ground among the burning ruins of their homes: dead, or battered, or bleeding and bruised, as it dawned on them that the magical men could f
ight too and their skill and prowess surpassed their own.
The women watched as the men lay on the ground, many of them ran away and as they fled, they screamed for help and screamed that they were under attack. More villagers came rushing out to see what the commotion was and to help. Some women picked up anything they could and went charging towards Waldon and Kenaz but they simply meted out the same fate to the women as they had the men, or they picked them up by whatever weapon they were brandishing and threw them across the ground, until they too landed in a crumpled heap.
The four men advanced through the village, which was now in absolute pandemonium, and as they progressed, Rakan and Rufus continued to fight and burn the houses to the ground as Waldon and Kenaz continued to ward off any villagers brave enough to face them. Soon Rakan, Rufus, Waldon and Kenaz were stood opposite the remaining angry and frightened villagers, who had somehow managed to regroup and band together.
There were over a hundred of them now and they had armed themselves with sticks and swords and whatever else they could use as a weapon. Some were carrying fire torches and they held them up in the air in a hostile manner.
The intensely hostile crowd allowed their rage to boil over and they looked on at the four men who had come to destroy them, with glares and snarls but the four men simply looked impassively back. Rakan, Rufus, Kenaz and Waldon stood shoulder to shoulder once again and Rakan spoke to them all, for them all.
‘You have a choice tonight – join us or die,’ Rakan said simply, looking at the members of the crowd. Many were too afraid to look at him when he made eye contact with them, they looked down or away when he caught their eyes.
‘There are over a hundred of us and four of you,’ a man shouted.
‘If anyone is going to die it is you,’ said another angrily, and the crowd rumbled in agreement and nodded their heads.
‘They’re not convinced,’ Rufus said dryly.
‘They will be,’ Rakan replied.
‘There maybe a hundred of you, but the two of us,’ Waldon said, pointing to himself and Kenaz. ‘Could take you all,’ he finished, in a deep and confident voice.